See the Skeeter Haven Page in off season projects for photos of the build as it progresses.

Matt Mason, a Lake Geneva Wedding photographer, took some amazing video footage in January 2010 of many of the Boe-Craft owners on Geneva Lake. The area of sailable ice was small but was sufficient size to make the video. Enjoy!

New Year's Eve Day - 1 PM Ice Report from Bob Mereness:
No more Text Required.
East to West
Pier 290 to Cedar Point
Conference Point and South
Fontana End
Kinda Messy West to East
It has also been snowing steadily since shortly after these were taken - Maybe the snow will sink this mess.

December 25th, 2013All strung up and no place to go. The West end of Geneva from just West of Linn Pier all the way to Fontana is still open and nearly ready to freeze. We wait and hope. Hope of course is not a strategy, but Mother Nature is not in our control.The boom and blocks above are newly constructed for a new BoeCraft to be built next summer. The weather delay is moving things ahead of plan.More info and pictures on the Skeeter Haven page.

December 23rd, 2013New runners for Bee Sting II complete. Lined up on the plank today - ready to go!

December 13, 2013
Test sail on Lake Como on Thursday the 12th was successful in that it was possible to get a good ride in the 15 to 25 mph winds. Bad news was the crusty snow was so stiff that every tack slowed the boats down from 40 to 15 mph.
With snow on the way there was no point in staying at Como.

December 7th, 2013Specification revised at the annual meeting to clarify the construction material of these boats as WOOD.See Organization & Tech Data Page for full Specification.

December 2nd, 2013Como had three inches of ice on the last areas (and holes) to freeze on Sunday afternoon under a bright sun and 43 degrees - no wind.
Delavan froze beautifully last Thursday night and is now wide open again.
The nice cold temperatures on their way starting Thursday should get us on the ice late this week or early next.

December 1st, 2013Plank and boom painted. Upholstery underway. Ready for the Ice by the weekend.More pictures on the Button shop page.

November 14th, 2013

November 13, 2013

Last Paint goes on this afternoon. This is intermediate coat.

November 3, 2013 First varnish coat

October 30, 2013

Structure is all complete. Finishing the cosmetics next. More pictures on Button Shop page.

October 22, 2013

Work continues on Fritz's new hull as the deck goes on and the cockpit gets laminated to 1/2" thick.

See the off season projects page - Button Shop for more photos.

October 5, 2013

There has been a good deal of building activity this summer and fall with some projects completed and others still underway.

Sparky is building a mast and plank for Cody so every component on his boat will be new construction for the upcoming season.

Burly needed some work on his mast and plank. The cracks in the mast have been epoxied and reinforced with glass. We will find out if it is successful as soon as the season starts. The plank was cracked nearly through the top board at the hull to plank interface, as well as through the bolt holes. The repair to that should be bulletproof. Pictures of those projects are on the Skeeter Haven page.

Fritz button has been constructing a new hull from the lofting taken from Skating Away II. The spruce and plywood came from McCormick's, and nearly all hardware is newly made. Carl Bergersen contributed a new mast step cup that would otherwise have been unobtainable. The process has been useful in finding and correcting every error in my bulkhead drawings.
The results look great. The springboard was fit on yesterday, so a lot of finish sanding to go before putting on the deck and bottom.
A new page has been added for the Button Shop, with lots of construction pictures.

The photo below is by Gretchen Dorian. She will have DVDs of her photos available for sale. They can be viewed on her website. http://gretchendorian.com

This was the first time the B-Skeeters had a separate starting place in the rotation. Eight boats registered and seven competed. The Geneva Boats were joined by two enthusiastic and competitive Green Lake boats.

Hink Morgan was a major player in the NIYA, sailing Ferdinand the Bull in Class A and winning numerous times. He was also well known for his wit and especially for his chowder. This regatta marked a first return for the Morgan family to the NIYA. The BoeCraft fleet included not only Todd his son, but Troy Soberg and Kaahlen O’Laughlin, his Grandsons.

The winds forecast for the three days were a significant challenge. Each was predicted to have a little wind in the morning, followed by an entire mid-day of nothing, with wind returning about 3 to 4 pm. The little light precip on Friday did not look like a problem. The plan was to sail right to dark with the last start at 6:30 pm ½ hour before sunset. That actually happened on both Friday and Saturday, and allowed three of the five fleets to have the three races needed for a regatta in by 7:40 pm. The 2 inches of snow on Friday night did not stop the plan, but did make for sticky tricky sailing on Saturday. Sunday dawned very cold with crusty snow in the pits, but the wind denied the forecast and gave us a steady 12 to 15 mph that allowed for great racing right up until the 1:00 pm cut off.

The DN’s got in all 5 races, and all the other fleets got in 4 plus the Free For All race to complete a great regatta in which we had the maximum time on the ice in the last 30 years.

The Boecraft races were sailed after 4 pm Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon, with Sunday starting right on time at 9:30 am with the last race at noon on Sunday.

The first race started in slushy snow and drizzle that turned into a downpour. Peter Vendervelde sailed very steady and consistent and held the lead basically the whole way. Kaahlen was close but could not catch him. Visibility was non-existent, but with the fleet spread out there were no issues and everyone got in safely. Troy and I proved that getting out of the boat to push back to speed only works if everyone does it.

Saturday’s race was made more challenging by 40 to 50 degree shifts and spots of no velocity. Kaahlen led the whole race but got caught at the last weather mark.

Sunday was about as much fun as it gets in sailing these boats. After a bit of patience off the start to get rolling, the boats could be sailed all the way around the course with the windward runner just tapping the ice with the amount of hike controlled by steering with the sheet all the way in. Troy led to the first windward mark in both races and finished second both times. Kaahlen gave Troy a run on the first race but settled for 3rd in both. Peter sailed a very consistent 4th. Jimmy wore himself out on Saturday sailing about 50 miles while the other fleets were sailing, and had a hard time trimming in the bigger breeze on Sunday.

February 17th 2013The second day of the Boecraft regatta was completed on Saturday with three races in the morning. In the afternoon SIBC races were sailed alternating with the DN fleet. Shifty wind direction and lots of velocity changes made every race interesting. The younger guys started to pick it up as the old guys tired out. Troy had his best finishes ever and Jimmy Mac won his first race on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday's prediction of light and variable wind was accurate all the way to 3:45 pm so no race course could be set up.
The hot soup, salsa, taco dip, Guacamole and beverages were a hit with everyone as the day turned into a warm and sunny beach party.
Thanks to Pam, Mary Jane, Jessica and Natalie for making it happen.

February 15th 2013The First Day of the 2013 Boecraft Championship was sailed on Geneva Lake in a variable Northwest wind. Three more races are scheduled for Saturday and one on Sunday to complete a 7 race Championship.

January 21st, 2013The 2013 ISA Championship Regatta is in the books. The B skeeter fleet served as the canaries in the coal mine as the first start on Friday morning. We started in 20-25 mph, but it went up from there at the first mark rounding. We had to handle gusts well into the 30's during the last 3 laps of the 4 lap race.
Handling was an issue as the boats blew sideways on all three runners in the big puffs. Rounding the windward mark was a huge rush in the big breeze. Rounding the leward mark was just as much of an adrenalin shot because there was no certainty that the boat would turn. Steering runners at full left lock sliding straight for the safety zone were a common occurance.
In the really big wind the lower power of the Yankee rig and Mark Hancik's sailing skill gave him the first win by a Yankee over the Boecrafts in the West.
No other fleet considered a race start as the wind continued to build on Friday.

photo by Lottery Ticket on Flickr

Saturday a window in the morning was predicted at sailable velocities, before becoming a repeat of Friday. An 8:30 start was set to take advantage. The forecast turned out happily to be as far off as the day before was right on. It was an absolutely ideal sunny and warm day of sailing in 14 to 16 mph with a few gusts around 20.
Every fleet sailed the maximum number of races in perfect conditions, and there was time left for scrub racing and beers at Springers before sailing back to the pits at Quam road.
In the first race the higher power of the Boecraft moved Mark in the Yankee back to third, with Sparky taking second. Unfortunately for Cody, his run of bad luck or perhaps his last component still made of over weathered spruce resulted in a mast explosion just before he got to the windward mark on the starboard layline.
Cody was ok, but the old Ramblin mast was toast and left a debris trail past the mark.
We were able to sail our 3rd race of the day, and 4th regatta race in about the lowest velocity of the event. Kaahlen got moving again after a pulley location tune-up and took second in the last race.

photo by Captain Craig - the Kite photo Master

We all took our spars down anticipating a big WNW blow overnight. This time the forecasters were right and some sustained 50mph plus winds blew through in the evening. A fisherman trying to get back to the launch ramp hugging the shoreline on his ATV was surprised to report a 35 foot box trailer go past him at 40 mph heading southeast.
When we got back in the morning hoping to get our last race in, we found Jimmy's trailer missing. After a walk of a little less than 2 miles, it was spotted on the last point about 200 yards from turning the corner. Old Glory was still proudly flying from the flag pole. We pushed it a quarter mile back to Bob Kau's big skeeter trailer and waited for the ATV. While we were waiting the race committee found at least one barely visible 10 foot diameter open drain hole. It had been cut around a spot where a fishing shanty had been. Since the holes were impossible to see until right on them, and the number was unknown, the regatta was wrapped up right then.
Jimmy has for sure the fastest trailer in the fleet, and also got the best photo op. Cody almost certainly has a lock on the Dust Pan award. The ISA is complete for the first time since 2008 in the West and the Boecraft Fleet has the trophy back.

January 6th 2013No races on Saturday the 5th. The entire lake was pretty evenly spaced with tip-ups due to a fishing tournament. Many cruising boats showed up, many appeared to have had no prior experience. Watching from shore was the safest place.
On Sunday the 6th, the best race area was open and 5 races were held in 10 to 15 mph of wind, with some much higher gusts in the third race.
Dan prevented a series sweep in the second race. Cody got faster and took two seconds just before blowing up his runner plank.
Another great day of racing on the half mile six lap northwest wind course on Como.THE VIDEO LINK BELOW IS THE FIRST LEWARD MARK ROUNDING OF THE FIRST RACE OF THE DAY. Video by Mark VanDeBogert

January 2nd, 2013First day of Wednesday Series still at Como. Tough 5 lap races on a 0.6 mile course. The third race did not make the time limit so Buddy pulled the plug on it.
Everyone got lots of pointers from the master after each race, and a sunset at days end that begged to be photographed.

December 31st, 20135 races for the Holiday series were sailed in 10-15 mph of shifting wind. Six lap races on a half mile course made for a 30 lap day.
Dan was unbeatable on the day. Diablo had an exciting last mark rounding when the 5/8" steernig shaft snapped off and sent him straight for the shore. Luckily he stopped a couple of yards short of disaster.

One great heavy air day on December 26th, followed by two light air days on glass smooth ice on Como. There was a dusting only from the predicted 1 to 2 inches, so conditions are still ideal.
Cody's new boat was completed and tuned-up, Orca the tandem and the Batwing were tested and approved.
There are Nine B-Skeeeters on the ice and ready to go for Tomorrow's first race. It will be many laps on a short course on the West end of Lake Como.

December 28th after dusting of snow.

December 12, 2012Ready to go and no Ice!

October 25, 2012

Check out the gallery pictures from Sparky's garage.
Sparky has provided shots of the hull build and rework on Casey's new early 60's Boecraft Tandem Skeeter
Go to the Off-Season Projects Button and select Spark's Garage.

October 22, 2012

The overheated summer of 2012 is finally behind us and we can start thinking of the up-coming iceboating season.

Sparky has completed the new hull for Cody and is finishing the paint now. He has promised a full photo record of the process, so look for a new photo gallery here with a lot of detail from Sparky's build.

June 13, 2012
Trophy presentation photos are now posted in the photo archive.

A new page has been added that will contain recipes that have been favorites at our on the ice lunch cookouts. Thanks to Pam Mereness and John Simms for the first two contributions.

Here is a contribution from our Commodore. He had some time on his hands and decided to try to write an extremely short story using all the boat names he could possibly fit in. He certainly got in most of the boat names. Literary critique will be left to the readers.

His anger was IN EXCESS as he rose from the flames. EL DIABLO created such a ZEPHYR, an incredible WILLOW BENDER, that even the PROUD REBEL went SKATING AWAY. After the APPARENT CHAOS had settled, the confused BLACK WIDOW asked JOE COLLEGE "is that a HALLOWEENIE ON THE ROCKS?" "No I think it's an AKEBONO."

Rick Pappas

The fat lady finished her song way ahead of schedule here in the far South of Wisconsin.

There are a few repairs to do, but not many.
19 total races, all on Delavan were not too bad for such an unusually warm winter.

Sparky has started building his grandson Cody a new B Skeeter that should be ready for the ice next season.
Trophy and Season Champions have been updated.

February 18, 2012Saturday racing started today with very short courses and lots of laps. Wind velocity and direction changes made racing very challenging. Mike Hirn was the winner on the day, with two firsts in the morning and one in the afternoon.

February 16, 2012

One more race was completed in the Wednesday Series on the 15th. The conditions were deep slush and shifty winds. The second race failed to make the 7 &1/2 minute per mile time limit. Casey would have won it, but was a minute short of making the time on the last lap.

racing is underway. Three races were sailed starting at 2:00 pm on a very interesting 0.6 mile course. Each race was 5 laps to make the 6 mile minimum.
We got a lot of input from Buddy Melges on our performance. We all appear to have a great deal of room for improvement.

February 12,2012After an unsuccessful attempt to get the NIYA Regatta in, we have been back racing our Stay at Home series scheduled when the regatta was called on.
The wind direction was West Northwest resulting in another very challenging 0.6 mile race course sailed on the west end of Delavan Lake.

After a long day waiting for the wind to come down on Saturday, The BoeCraft Championship was resumed on Sunday in a North Northwest wind in the 17 to 21mph range.
There was a lot of close racing and a couple of breakdowns. All three races were completed for a total of 6.
Results are below:

The 2012 BoeCraft Championship Regatta is underway at Delavan Lake. Three Races were sailed in wind under 10 mph using only the West end of the lake due to dangerous ice conditions on the East end of the lake. Results below:

January 21st, 2012Sparky lettered the Black Widow on Thursday. Kaahlen is ready to go.

January 5th, 2012Lake Como is snowed out for now. Delavan finally closed all the open holes, but has the same snow problem as Como.Geneva Lake is frozen and snow covered from Lake Geneva to just East of Black Point. The rest of the lake is mostly frozen - the ice is still forming.Lots of ice checking to do in the next few days.Sparky lettered the Black Widow on Thursday. Kaahlen is ready to go.January 5th, 2012Set up three boats on Como and sailed from 11:30 to 2:00. Nice smooth ice but too much temperature.
When we started to push waves in the ice and cut through, we had to take off as quick as possible. We almost made it without breaking the ice at the ramp, but not quite. It was still worth getting the ride.
There are still 3 inches in place as of Monday the 9th. We hope to get back on After Thursday.